The only places I don't like are Robin's Donuts (blech) and the gas station/grocery store/convenience store type offerings... the latter mainly because they're too inconsistent although I could see myself becoming a regular at one where I knew the coffee was drinkable.
I found the 3 Bananas coffee just terrible. Transcend is okay but it's tasted burnt when I 've had it. Will have to try CB, but it's a little out of the way so I don't get over that way much
I am a coffee guy, period. We have an indie coffee company called Blue's just around the corner from our house in Goldbar in that strip mall on 106 ave. The coffee is terrible, but their milkshakes are to die for!
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Short term pain for long term gain
Iconoclast in Edmonton (unfortunately not downtown, but close enough to home to stop there on my way to just about anywhere) is my new go-to place. If I'm downtown or in an airport that has one (and YEG does), Sorrentino's Cafe is great! Their Bongiorno breakfast panini has made a lot of hungry people jealous on early-morning flights.
Otherwise Good Earth, Starbucks (blonde roast please), McD's for convenience coffee.
well better than tim hortons, mcdonalds etc. I know outside of vancouver 7-11 is probably rare but they are all over vancouver and are a considerable option in the coffee wars
i know the 7-11 dounts are good, their fritters are awesome
At work we have "Executive Coffee". It tastes awful. You have to use half the recommended amount of water to get any flavour, not that you'd want it. And I take my coffee black so the taste is important.
__________________ Note to self: "The plural of anecdote is not evidence."
If you're not a coffee snob, then both 7/11 and McDonalds make a very good cup of coffee.
People keep telling me that McDonalds coffee is good, but I haven't been able to bring myself to go into one to try it. Although I did see some very slick looking McCafes when I was out of the country recently.
During the week, I make my own coffee every morning, and get "cheap" coffee in the afternoon.
I normally go to 7-11 when I want "cheap" coffee.
I go to "expensive" coffee shops 2-3 times per week.
I try to check out at least one untried local shop per week. As I live in Metro Vancouver there is always a place I haven't attended. The last one was this Saturday at Old Hand Coffee in Abbotsford. The one prior to Old Hand was Revolver in Downtown. Both very good--but their cups are so damn small! I need volume--at least 16 oz.
For national chains, I like Blendz and Second Cup. As a westcoaster and a mocha fiend, I prefer Blendz.
In Downtown Kingston I prefer, in order of preference, Coffee & Company, Sipp's, and then Tim Hortons. I'm glad to have several non-corporate choices around - although Coffee & Company is more expensive than even Starbucks. But their service is far superior to the downtown Starbucks, and Tim Hortons would get more business from me if their service was better. Starbucks has good service at some locations, but not everywhere. I still have raw memories of seeing a poor novice Starbucks cashier get berated and humiliated by a supervisor in front of customers in London over five years ago - I boycotted the company for awhile after that.
It is important to note that in many smaller communities and suburbs, there are no non-corporate coffee options. Last time I visited my parents, I noted that the only coffee shops within a 10-minute drive were Tim Hortons and Starbucks. And a gas station. The area used to have a local coffee shop, but it went under.
Is there even a Seattle's Best or Second Cup in Victoria?
It appears there are no Second Cup locations in Victoria, so I guess that makes boycotting them pretty easy. Seattles Best has only one location, in Tillicum mall.
People keep telling me that McDonalds coffee is good, but I haven't been able to bring myself to go into one to try it. Although I did see some very slick looking McCafes when I was out of the country recently.
McDonalds I'd rate as being on par with Tim Horton's. If you like one, you'll like the other. I say this as someone who is happy with both.
Here in Victoria I have decided to stop buying a coffee at either Tim Horton's, Starbucks, Seattle's Best or Second Cup. I have decided to only buy a coffee from local coffee houses (I don't give a shit about organic or fair trade) and will go out of my way to support local ownership.
I'm wondering if this idea is a norm across Canada or if most of you are indifferent to who is the owner of the store that feeds your caffeine habit.
The amount of time/money Starbucks devotes to good causes dwarfs what any indie shops could. Same with providing employee benefits, so I don't get why some feel so virtuous about not buying there.
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